A different point of viewing...

Rotating penguin story | Home | Heading north - whaling stopped for now

23 December 2005

by Kate, onboard the Arctic Sunrise

So many things to say have been said by other people who have witnessed the events of the day. Do I have anything more to offer; a different point of view? I don't know. Except that I was in the helicopter today and this is my point of viewing.

I am struck again, over and over, by the beauty of this place. The majesty of the scenery, the awesome towering forms of ice, the solitude of this remote wilderness, the serenity of life here and yet... and yet we are here, I am here, the whalers are here. Disrupting, disturbing, killing, taking. I can see for miles and miles around. Beauty. Untouched wilderness. Peace. This should be a peaceful place. Undisturbed by me, us, them.

It is difficult to witness the death of an animal. I think. Though I have before; on farms, in abattoirs, my cat when she got old and we had to take her to the vet. So what is it here and now about the death of a whale, many whales, that I am so affected that I struggle to find the words to accurately describe the emotion? Senseless killing. That is what I want to say. This is not science or research or even commerce. This is wanton destruction of a majestic animal that lives and breathes and exists in this place of wondrous beauty.

But I leave to you to work out the why and the how and the how can it be halted. What I will tell is two stories from my point of viewing.

For six hours, more, our inflatable boats stuck to one of the catcher ships, getting in between the harpoon and countless whales. Frustrating the harpooner by obscuring his view, forcing him to miss several times even if he got a shot off at all. And then one time he doesn't miss. From the helicopter I see it all. We have spotted the whale almost before the catcher. You see the blow first and then the slow rolling movement of its back and dorsal fin above the water before it dives again into its own world where we cannot follow. There is a moment of exhilaration at seeing this wild creature that soon dissipates as the catcher ship alters course to the direction of the whale. The next time it surfaces... boom... the harpoon is grenade tipped and the noise is startling. But that is not the end of the story. The whale dives, injured, mortally wounded; but not dead. Taught line runs from the bow of the catcher to the harpoon in the whale. I follow the line to see where will it surface. This is not the first kill I have witnessed - that was at around 8 this morning - but it is the bloodiest struggle of a dying life form that I have ever seen. The whale surfaces, almost as if it could breach the surface of the water were it not for the harpoon in its back, blows (breathes) and dives again. Blood in the water. Again it surfaces, thrashing and blowing; again it dives. Its strength sapped, it surfaces once more. A man comes to the bow with a rifle. He fires. Once, twice. A pause. It's still alive. Thrashing around in the water. Blood and foam. He fires again, I don't know how many times. My awareness is this whale. Dying in the water that is now red from its own blood, and still it lives. It lives as the whalers loop a line around its tail and move its bloodied body from the bow to their midships. It lives as they secure it alongside for the transit they will now make to their factory ship. 'Why don't they just kill it', I hear myself say into the heli-mike to anyone who is listening.

The other story that I want to tell starts in exactly the same way. From our helicopter following the catcher and our inflatables in the water, we spy whales. So close to the hunters on their port side that I am holding my breath. We are in the ice. The water is so clear here that I can see the whales beneath the surface. I count one, two, four, five... there are young here... a family group. I am braced for the ensuing drama, my camera poised to document what is to come. But the catcher maintains its course. The earth moves around the sun and the pod of whales that we have spotted disappear under the ice.

In peace.

Comments

Kate,

i only want to wish you and all the crew of the Artic and Esperanza many many peace.
Peace in your mind and in your soul.
Go on with your work...be shore that all around the world we are seing you. May be it takes time but we will learn.

Thanks

Hugo from Portugal

Posted by: hugo at December 23, 2005 3:03 PM

so some whales go in peace ..you must take some comfort from that. We are grateful for your purposeful work... amd letting us share in it.

Bobby and Cogs

Posted by: Bobby and Cogs at December 23, 2005 3:54 PM

Kate, just reading what you have experienced has made me cry. What is it that makes some people kill and plunder without conscience and consideration. I wish we could all wave a magic wand and make these cruel and viscious people change their ways. My thoughts are with you and your team of ocean defenders. Work hard, save as many whales as you can, and I hope that some how, some way, the Sanctuary and the ban on whaling will eventually become respected by all. I am thinking of you there !!!! Michelle, Cape Town

Posted by: Michelle Mountain at December 23, 2005 4:34 PM

Dear Greenpeace,

I am sickened at the actions of Japanese whalers and will be writing to John Howard and Kim Beazley to protest at the lack of action from the Government on this matter. I have recently joined Greenpeace and will support it all I can. This slaughter has to be stopped somehow, it is completely inhuman.

Posted by: Joan Grey at December 24, 2005 8:26 AM

Hi Kate...,
The world is watching and reading your words, and feeling what you do inside. Japan: You need to go home to your families and find Love. This cruelty cannot continue. You are bringing shame to your country and your people. You laugh as others cry for the beauty of life.
Kate: God bless you, ...I'll pray for you and these heroes of yours every day. I'll pray that all the world's children will find the beautiful things you feel inside you. I can only hope you feel the Love I have inside me today for you. Give it all you've got... Thank you for your sacrifices, ...there are those that appreciate what you do. Wishing you a peaceful and promising Christmas day. I Love you all... - Wes

Posted by: Grateful Child at December 24, 2005 12:43 PM

All updates from the Southern Ocean whaling 2007 leg »
All updates from the Pacific transit »
All updates from the Mexico leg »
All updates from the Hawaii leg »
All updates from the Pacific leg »
All updates from the Philippines leg »
All updates from the India leg »
All updates from the Red Sea leg »
All updates from the Mediterranean leg »
All updates from the Azores leg »
All updates from the Pirate Fishing/Africa leg »
All updates from the Southern Ocean »

Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!